Governor Dedicates Augustine Herman Highway

On July 29, 1956, Governor Theodore R. McKeldin named Route 213, from Elkton to the Chester River, the Augustine Herman Highway to honor the famous early map maker of Maryland. This ceremony, which included the unveiling of a highway sign, was part of a larger observance of the 286th anniversary of Herman’s entry into Maryland.

Dr. Juray Slavik, former Czechoslovakian ambassador to the United States and Miss Norma Svedjs, president of the Augustine Herman, Czech Historical Society of Baltimore also spoke at the event, which drew about 100 members of the Society.

The ceremony honored Augustine Herman, first naturalized citizen of Maryland and its first map maker, the Cecil Whig reported. “The Governor called Herman a surveyor, geologist, geographer, and linguist.” For pay, he only asked for a “piece of your land, where I want to settle, to live, and to die,” the Governor remarked. “The Tract,” he continued, “and the river flowing by, he named Bohemia in honor of his native land.”